To be a successful hunter, you must learn how to shoot your gun correctly and accurately. It is a gradual procedure that you should get better at with the more regular practice you have.
However, even before you start practicing, there are things to know. First, before picking up a gun, you must know the types, and with this, you have what are two basic styles of firearm actions?
You will have seen guns function differently in the movies, and the two basic firearm actions are single-shot firearms. The other would be repeating-style firearms where the gun is reloaded automatically.
With this, you have an automatic where you hold the trigger and the gun fires until empty, or semi-auto, where you pull the trigger repeatedly, and the gun reloads automatically.
Rifles and pistols often fall under this most basic firearm action umbrella, yet you can have shotguns that function something similar.
Much of this can change the sort of gun suitable for your hunting trips, so here, you can learn more about the main two categories and basic parts of guns. By the end of this guide, you’ll see how the two basic styles of firearm actions you get on long guns for hunting. (Read Is A Crossbow Considered A Firearm)
Why Learn About Firearm Actions?
You can’t imagine being a hunter or shooter without first understanding firearm actions.
You’ll learn many skills for loading, unloading, and ejecting your firearm’s spent ammunition. Any hunter will do this and knowing how your gun operates means you can hunt safely and effectively.
Single action and repeating action are the two most common types of firearm actions. In addition, bolt action, break action, lever action, pump action, and many other subcategories are included in each and vary depending on the gun.
What is Single Shot?
Single shot is the most common action style and means that every time you take a shot, you reload the gun. You’ll find this the most typical action style used by most hunters.
Rifles, pistols, and shotguns are best known for their single-shot style.
Single-shot firearms can have a magazine to hold metallic cartridges, yet these remain there until you eject the previous casing from the shot. With bolt action, you need to close this to load the rifle and also to get the gun into a firable state.
This action style is for hunters who are confident of hitting the target with one shot. However, when firing a pistol, there is a minor difference.
Before taking the first shot with a pistol, you must first set the firing function; after that, there is nothing to worry about in consecutive shots. (Read How Should Firearms Be Transported In A Boat)
Single shots are referred to by various names, including rolling block, falling block, bolt action, and so on.
Quick summary for single-shot action:
- Single-shot firearms don’t use automatic magazines.
- Instead, they use only one cartridge at once.
- So, after shooting, you must remove each cartridge before the next cartridge fills the chamber.
- Then, before you fire again, you need to fix the bolt action.
What is Repeating Style?
The benefit of using extra rounds in the firearm is the repeating style action. Using the repeating style eliminates the need to reload the rifle after each fire. That means you can keep shooting at a target until your cartridge runs out of bullets. But, unlike single-shot firearms, it has a different action style.
This action style is commonly used in rifles where it includes a spring-loaded cartridge or tube and a magazine box with a metal storage system. This style of repetitive action is preferred in warfare, yet in hunting, you would need semi-automatic.
War is a severe situation, and you still need good shooting skills even if you have magazines full of bullets.
Summary of repeating action style:
- The repeating style uses a spring-loaded cartridge or magazine.
- This action style is found on firearms like rifles and automatic pistols.
- The firing of the cartridge controls the action of reloading the chamber.
- It is a preferred style for anyone needing multiple shots quickly without reloading.
How to Take The Perfect Shot?
Following understanding the action styles of single-shot action and semi-auto, you’ll need to know how to perfect your aim and shot.
Before using any firearms, ensure you have the correct shooting stance. For example, your arms should be fully extended and stretched instead of being locked, and your shoulders relaxed.
Your feet should be spaced apart based on the width of your hips and one foot slightly in front of the other. Lean your torso a bit forward and bend your waist slightly.
Holding your grip tight can help improve your aim and shot. With a loose grip, once you fire, it means the recoil will move the gun, and you can miss. Leaning forward means you brace yourself for the recoil and avoid stepping back if the gun is too powerful.
For this reason, semi-auto or automatic guns are not recommended for hunting. It can be extremely easy to cause accidents or ruin a day’s hunting when your finger is stuck pulling on the trigger.
Try adjusting the sight until it feels right, and don’t forget to visually align the front sight with the rear sight and your target. (Read Four Main Causes Of Hunting Incidents)
Single shot guns, such as hunting rifles, mean you can steady yourself before the next shot. Semi-automatic or repeating styles mean you could continuously fire at the target, yet single-shot arms are recommended over repeating firearms when hunting.
Difference of Two Basic Styles of Firearm Actions?
Single Shot is a typical firearm style for people who own handheld guns. A revolver means you have to set the hammer for every shot. The trigger is responsible for causing the hammer to strike, and the firing pin will hit the small detonator you see at the end of each bullet.
A pistol could be a single shot, yet you only have to manually cock the pistol for the first shot, and cartridge gasses and springs control subsequent shots.
Single-shot actions comprise falling block, rolling block, break-open, tin-up, and more common bolt-action.
You’ll have the break open type for shotguns as being highly popular. Two barrels can be side by side or on top of each other. A semi-auto or pump-action shotgun has no extra barrel and uses one like a rifle.
Repeating firearms use magazines and extra cartridges. Users sometimes refer to these cartridges as shells or extra barrels in the firearm action.
Repeating style is most common for rifles that have controlled loading from a spring-loaded tubular action.
Semi-automatic or pump-action firearm action functions similarly, yet the action is manual from a pump or automated from a semi-auto gun. Repeaters offer the function of using separate magazines for more cartridges, and the guns are ejected and loaded through a free lock action.
A single shot firearm action can use a magazine, yet you have to empty and load the gun manually.
However, please know that the shooting success still depends on how you handle your gun. Proper manipulation is still the answer, and most often, you’ll find bolt actions the best choice of action to use.
